I'd like you to introduce you to this weird species that you seem a bit unfamiliar with. I've no doubt that there's a non-trivial number of people who are very afraid of ventilators, but are also frozen with fear of needles. Phobias are human and common.https://twitter.com/towittertoo/status/1425969221163495425 …
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zeynep tufekci Retweeted Schooley
A reminder not just to media (of this known problem that should have been taken more seriously) but also just general awareness: some people in your life are just afraid of needles and may not be telling you, but might be able to manage it with support.https://twitter.com/Rschooley/status/1425969788283604996 …
zeynep tufekci added,
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zeynep tufekci Retweeted Dr. Joshua Ishal
Yes, good point. I have a dentist and a dentist-phobic person in my family, and the former has so many stories and I have so many stories of the latter going to extreme lengths to avoid the simplest visit. It's not rational, but it's human.https://twitter.com/DentalJosh/status/1425972168291196934 …
zeynep tufekci added,
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To "get over it" people. I'm not afraid of needles, and maybe you aren't either. But having irrational fears, knowing they're irrational, being embarrassed about it, and avoiding even life-saving interventions because of such fears... it's human. None of us are pure rationality.
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Ah, this is great: a special section of the clinic. Also, folks, the person featured here is is a neuroscientist and molecular biologist. She was frozen with fear, and breaking down crying repeatedly. It took a special clinic, therapy, personal support. https://twitter.com/piptal/status/1425975710552838145 …pic.twitter.com/3pujv6pcYr
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zeynep tufekci Retweeted Keith Mann
Indeed. But this is the United States. IIRC, a third of the population has no primary-care provider, and who's going to do this with a high deductible plan? Low-anxiety sections or pop-up clinics might help.https://twitter.com/keithmann/status/1425976768004075527 …
zeynep tufekci added,
11 replies 15 retweets 162 likesShow this thread -
Replying to @zeynep
Also if you ask for Valium to treat the needle anxiety, a US doctor will likely treat you as a drug seeker. Anecdotally the only people I know who have actually been prescribed anxiety meds are middle aged white men. Other friends who need them have never succeeded.
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Replying to @EmilyDreyfuss
Wowze. It sounds right, and terrible. What's the scenario? People are going to get vaccinated again and again just to get some Xanax?
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Replying to @zeynep @EmilyDreyfuss
When I tried to get a Xanax prescription to deal with my needle phobia I was told no because I was in a high risk category (female 20s). Meanwhile the same doctor basically threw those pills at my dad for his needle phobia (male 70s).
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Ugh I’m sorry, I’ve heard so many similar stories
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One, that is terrible. Two, like how many Xanaxes (is that the plural?) are these people prescribing anyway for this? Doesn't seem like a high-risk event?
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I’m not sure. In my case, when I was hoping to get some kind of anxiety med to deal with a single event, two doctors told me they wouldn’t prescribe even two pills bc it could set me up to “needing them in the future.” It was a slippery slope/ gateway drug argument.
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